Endometritis in Bovine: A Review

Endometritis is an inflammation of the endometrial lining of uterus without systemic signs, which is associated with chronic postpartum infection of the uterus with pathogenic bacteria. Prevalence rate of endometritis in India ranges from 3 to 25% in cows. The rate of endometritis in buffaloes which were covered under Amul and Dudhsagar dairy ranged from 10 to 48 per cent in Gujarat. The classification of endometritis is based on vaginal mucus viz., mild, mucopurulent, purulent and endometritis with mucopurulant or purulent fluid in uterus and severity of infection viz., acute, sub clinical and chronic endometritis. Clinical endometritis is manifested by presence of a purulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina after 21 days or more post partum, or mucopurulent discharge detectable in the vagina after 26 days post partum. The metabolic disorders like milk fever and ketosis are related to an increase risk of developing endometritis. The endometritis is the complex of diseases that includes retained placenta, puerperal metritis, endometritis, pyometra and other non-specific infections of the uterus. The FSH concentrations from the pituitary are unaffected by uterine disease and so waves of ovarian follicles emerge in the first weeks after parturition. Classical diagnosis of endometritis on the basis of clinical manifestation and rectal examination is common. New diagnostic device Metricheck, Cytobrush and ultrasonography is adequate to diagnose endometritis. Endometritis is often self-limiting with recovery occurring after subsequent estrous cycles. The effective treatment is one which increases the uterine defense and excludes bacterial infections, but should not inhibit the normal uterine defense mechanism. PGF2α in combination with intrauterine antibacterial drugs, immunomudulators and herbals agents like Garlic extract, Neem oil are the treatment of choice for Endometritis in bovine with variable success rate.